Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003873 (rheumatoid arthritis)
 53,068 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine which acts on a wide variety of cells, regulating immune response, acute phase reaction and hematopoiesis. In accordance with its pleiotropic functions, IL-6 is indicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases including autoimmunities, lymphoid malignancies and inflammations. An elevated level of IL-6 is demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and cardiac myxoma, which can explain symptoms of these diseases, such as autoantibody production and increase in acute phase proteins. Therefore, inhibitors of IL-6 production or IL-6 receptor-mediated signal transduction may be used for treatment of IL-6-related diseases. The IL-6 receptor system consists of two membrane proteins, a ligand-binding chain (IL-6R) and a non-ligand-binding signal transducer, gp130, both of which belong to the cytokine receptor family. Binding of IL-6 to IL-6R triggers the association of IL-6R and gp130, and gp130 in turn transduces the signal. A nuclear factor for controlling IL-6 gene expression (NF-IL6) is also involved in the transcriptional regulation of various acute-phase protein genes. IL-6-stimulation of hepatocytes, through modification of pre-existing NF-IL6 protein, leads to binding of NF-IL6 to IL-6-responsive elements and activation of acute-phase protein genes. NF-IL6 is shown to recognize the enhancer core sequence of several viruses, suggesting a possible relationship of virus infection and IL-6 expression.
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PMID:Interleukin-6 and its receptor in autoimmunity. 138 Feb 41

Communication between cells is essential for a wide variety of biological functions. One way cells interact in immune and hemopoietic systems is through soluble mediators called interleukins or cytokines. Many cytokines and their receptors have been identified and characterized at the molecular level. These studies have observed that most cytokines function in a pleiotropic and redundant manner. Receptor studies have shown that many cytokine receptors consist of two polypeptide chains, a ligand-binding receptor, and a nonbinding signal transducer. This arrangement may explain the pleiotropic and redundant effects of cytokines. For example, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and IL-6 share many biological activities including platelet production, and the receptors of these cytokines utilize gp130 as a common signal transducer. IL-6 is multifunctional and produces both favorable and unfavorable effects on human health. Dysregulation of IL-6 expression is linked to the occurrence of cancer and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple myeloma, Castleman's disease, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Studies in transgenic mice in which the IL-6 gene was overexpressed have confirmed these pathogenic actions of IL-6. The pathogenesis of these diseases and therapies to treat them are discussed here based on insights derived from cytokine research.
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PMID:[Diseases associated with cytokine dysregulation]. 837 Oct 4

Bone-resorbing osteoclasts are of hemopoietic cell origin, probably of the CFU-M-derived monocyte-macrophage family. Bone marrow-derived osteoblastic stromal cells play an important role in modulating the differentiation of osteoclast progenitors in two different ways: one is the production of soluble factors, and the other is cell-to-cell recognition between osteoclast progenitors and osteoblastic stromal cells. M-CSF is probably the most important soluble factor, which appears to be necessary for not only proliferation of osteoclast progenitors, but also differentiation into mature osteoclasts and their survival. A number of local factors as well as systemic hormones induce osteoclast differentiation. They are classified into three categories in terms of the signal transduction: vitamin D receptor-mediated signals [1 alpha,25(OH)2D3]; protein kinase A-mediated signals (PTH, PTHrP, PGE2, and IL-1); and gp130-mediated signals (IL-6, IL-11, oncostatin M, and leukemia inhibitory factor). All of these osteoclast-inducing factors appear to act on osteoblastic cells to commonly induce osteoclast differentiation factor (ODF), which recognizes osteoclast progenitors and prepares them to differentiate into mature osteoclasts. This line of approach will undoubtedly produce new ways to treat several metabolic bone diseases caused by abnormal osteoclast recruitment such as osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, Paget's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and periodontal disease.
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PMID:Modulation of osteoclast differentiation by local factors. 857 4

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is considered an important mediator of acute inflammatory responses. Moreover, IL-6 functions as a differentiation and growth factor of hematopoietic precursor cells, B cells, T cells, keratinocytes, neuronal cells, osteoclasts, and endothelial cells. IL-6 exhibits its action via a receptor complex consisting of a specific IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and a signal transducing subunit (gp130). Soluble forms of both receptor components are generated by shedding and are found in patients with various diseases such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and others. The function of the soluble (s)IL-6R in vivo is unknown. Since human (h)IL-6 acts on human and murine target cells, but murine IL-6 on murine cells only, we constructed transgenic mice expressing the hsIL-6R. We report here that in the presence of hsIL-6R, mice are hypersensitized towards hIL-6, mounting an acute phase protein gene induction at significantly lower IL-6 dosages compared to control animals. Furthermore, in hsIL-6R transgenic mice, the detected acute phase response persists for a longer period of time. The IL-6/IL-6R complex prolongs markedly the Il-6 plasma half-life. Our results reinforce the role of the hsIL-6R as an agonistic protein, help to understand the function of the hsIL-6R in vivo, and highlight the significance of the receptor in the induction of the acute phase response.
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PMID:The function of the soluble interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor in vivo: sensitization of human soluble IL-6 receptor transgenic mice towards IL-6 and prolongation of the plasma half-life of IL-6. 866 98

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is considered an important mediator of acute inflammatory responses. Moreover, IL-6 functions as a differentiation and growth factor of hematopoietic precursor cells, B-cells, T-cells, keratinocytes, neuronal cells, osteoclasts and endothelial cells. IL-6 exhibits its action via a receptor complex consisting of a specific IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) and a signal-transducing subunit (gp130). Soluble forms of both receptor components are generated by shedding and are found in patients with various diseases such as AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis and others. The function of the soluble IL-6R in vivo is unknown. To discriminate between the biologic function of hIL-6 alone and that of the hIL-6/hsIL-6R complex, mice transgenic for human IL-6, for the human soluble IL-6R and for both, human IL-6 and the human soluble IL-6R were analyzed and compared with nontransgenic littermates. While IL-6 transgenic mice exhibit elevated acute phase protein levels and develop plasmacytomas, hsIL-6R single transgenic mice are hypersensitized towards human IL-6, mounting an acute phase protein gene induction at significantly lower IL-6 dosages compared to control animals. Furthermore, in hsIL-6R transgenic mice, the acute phase response persists for a longer period of time and the IL-6 plasma half life was markedly prolonged. IL-6/sI1-6R mice, however, develop massive hepatosplenomegaly caused by extramedullary hematopoisis in these organs. In IL-6- and IL-6R-single transgenic mice, no such effects were observed. Our study discloses a novel biologic effect of the hIL-6/hsIL-6R complex, which is clearly distinct from that of hIL-6 alone. We provide evidence that the activation of the gp130 signal transducer represents a major stimulation of growth and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells.
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PMID:The function of the soluble IL-6 receptor in vivo. 905 74

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a central role in host defense due to its wide range of immune and hematopoietic activities and its potent ability to induce the acute phase response. Overexpression of IL-6 has been implicated in the pathology of a number of diseases including multiple myeloma, rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman's disease, psoriasis, and post-menopausal osteoporosis. Hence, selective antagonists of IL-6 action may offer therapeutic benefits. IL-6 is a member of the family of cytokines that includes interleukin-11, leukemia inhibitory factor, oncostatin M, cardiotrophin-1, and ciliary neurotrophic factor. Like the other members of this family, IL-6 induces growth or differentiation via a receptor-system that involves a specific receptor and the use of a shared signaling subunit, gp130. Identification of the regions of IL-6 that are involved in the interactions with the IL-6 receptor, and gp130 is an important first step in the rational manipulation of the effects of this cytokine for therapeutic benefit. In this review, we focus on the sites on IL-6 which interact with its low-affinity specific receptor, the IL-6 receptor, and the high-affinity converter gp130. A tentative model for the IL-6 hexameric receptor ligand complex is presented and discussed with respect to the mechanism of action of the other members of the IL-6 family of cytokines.
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PMID:Interleukin-6: structure-function relationships. 914 66

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) exhibits multiple biologic activities such as regulation of immunological responses and hematopoiesis, promotion of acute inflammation, and stimulation of some malignant and non-malignant cell growth. The IL-6 receptor system consists of an IL-6 specific binding molecule, IL-6R and a signal transducer, gp130. Following gp130 dimerization, IL-6 activates multiple signaling pathways (Ras dependent MAPk cascade, STAT1-STAT3 heterodimer pathway, and STAT3 homodimer pathway). Several other cytokines including oncostatin M, IL-11, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and cardiotropin-1 (CT-1) use gp130 as a common signal transducing molecule and therefore have similar biological activities. Two major in vivo functions of IL-6 are reported. Firstly, IL-6 acts as a growth factor of some malignant and non-malignant cells such as malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma, mesangial cells in the kidney, and keratinocytes. Secondly, IL-6 mediates inflammatory and immune responses in rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman disease, psoriasis, cardiac myxoma, cachexia, and other inflammatory conditions. Recently, a humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody was developed. Neutralization of IL-6 activity by the humanized anti-IL-6 receptor antibody may be a new therapeutic approach for IL-6 related diseases such as multiple myeloma, Castleman disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
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PMID:[Advances in interleukin-6 therapy]. 1034 5

IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha have been proven to play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is well known that TNF-alpha induces IL-6 production from synovial cells as well as their proliferation. The effect of IL-6 on synovial cells, however, is not clear. An in vitrostudy was performed to determine the effect of IL-6 on the proliferation of synovial cells. Fibroblastic synovial cells isolated from the synovial tissues of eight RA patients were employed after the third to sixth passages. IL-6 in the presence of soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) inhibited the proliferation of synovial cells in a dose-dependent manner in seven cases without increasing the number of necrotic or apoptotic cells, while TNF-alpha increased synovial cell proliferation in all cases. The inhibitory effect of IL-6 was observed only in the presence of sIL-6R although small amounts of IL-6R were detected in these cells by RT-PCR analysis. However, anti-IL-6R or anti-gp130 mAb treatment increased spontaneous growth of synovial cells in all eight cases, suggesting that endogenous IL-6 and a small amount of IL-6R expressed in synovial cells suppressed their growth without exogenous IL-6 or sIL-6R. In addition, the IL-6-sIL-6R complex reduced the TNF-alpha-induced proliferation of synovial cells while TNF-alpha induced their IL-6 production. These data suggest that IL-6 may act as a negative feedback factor for TNF-alpha-induced synovial cell growth.
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PMID:IL-6 inhibits the proliferation of fibroblastic synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients in the presence of soluble IL-6 receptor. 1065 54

In an attempt to isolate disease-associated autoantigens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we cloned a new autoantigen named gp130-RAPS, which is a novel soluble form of the IL-6 signal-transducing molecule gp130. gp130-RAPS is a 50-kDa protein translated from alternatively spliced mRNA and has a truncated form of gp130 with a unique sequence, Asn-Ile-Ala-Ser-Phe (NIASF), in its COOH-terminus. We observed serum antibodies to this NIASF sequence frequently in patients with RA, but not in those with other systemic rheumatic diseases or in healthy subjects. In RA, detection of those antibodies was significantly associated with disease activity indices such as serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, blood platelet counts, and serum IL-6 concentration. In vitro experiments revealed that gp130-RAPS inhibited IL-6 activity, and this inhibition was neutralized by antibodies to the COOH-terminus of gp130-RAPS derived from patients with RA. Thus, autoantibody to gp130-RAPS may play an important role in the progression of RA by promoting IL-6 activity. Inspection of autoantibodies to gp130-RAPS may become a practical clinical test for RA. gp130-RAPS and its autoantibody provide a new clue to the complicated pathogenesis of RA.
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PMID:Cloning of novel soluble gp130 and detection of its neutralizing autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis. 1088 57

Oncostatin M (OSM) is a multifunctional member of the interleukin-6 cytokine family. OSM has been implicated as a powerful proinflammatory mediator and may represent a potentially important, novel therapeutic opportunity for treatment of established rheumatoid arthritis. To further investigate the role of OSM in inflammatory disorders, we have isolated a series of RNA aptamers that bind specifically to human OSM. The highest affinity aptamer, designated ADR58, has been characterized in a series of in vitro and cell based assays. ADR58 has an affinity of 7 nm for human OSM, and it can antagonize OSM binding to the gp130 receptor and specifically antagonize OSM mediated signaling. The aptamer has been truncated in length to 33 bases, all pyrimidine positions are substituted with 2' fluorine, and 14 of 18 purine positions have been substituted with 2' O-methyl to increase stability toward nucleases. This truncated, modified form of ADR58 retains complete affinity and functional activity for OSM. This aptamer may be used as a tool to further investigate the role of OSM in inflammatory disorders and may also have role as a therapeutic agent.
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PMID:The generation and characterization of antagonist RNA aptamers to human oncostatin M. 1088 21


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